Stories

LIFE Groups Feed Hungry Children

March 13, 2014

The biggest mission partner at Station Hill is The Well, a local food pantry in Spring Hill. Every year, the church supports them by hosting food drives, stocking supplies in their office, and sending volunteers to serve at mobile food pantries.

However, the most consistent support Station Hill members give to this local ministry is through the Jet Pack Program—specifically to students at Bethesda Elementary.

Each week, on Friday afternoon, blue plastic bags are discreetly placed in the backpacks of 40 students in need. These Jet Packs are filled with milk, juice, cereal, canned chili or ravioli, fruit, mac and cheese, and peanut butter crackers. For most of these students, it's all they'll have to eat over the weekend.

Leigh Ann Swords, Missions Coordinator for Station Hill, said, "Each month, we have a different LIFE Group that volunteers to pack the bags. They also collect an offering in their LIFE Group to help supplement the cost of the food."

According to Leigh Ann, other churches in the Spring Hill community also sponsor other schools through the program, so it's an inter-denominational, community-wide project to feed hungry children in the area.

Steve Fisher, the principal at Bethesda Elementary, wrote:

The Jet Pack Program is a real blessing to our student population whose families have a hard time making ends meet. Our current economically-disadvantaged student population exceeds 100 students—one-third of whom receive support from the Jet Pack Program based on real and verified need. The partnership with Station Hill Church and The Well is a true mission for children that will reap many rewards in the future as these students realize the care and support extended to them in their formative years of schooling. The best part of the partnership is that our local Christian community is able to cross all denominational lines to serve 'the least of these.' And I, for one, know that really makes Jesus happy.